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1958 Map of Charleston West

Name: 1958 Topographic Map of Charleston West
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1978
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

Industrial and urban development along the Kanawha River anchors this 1958 topographic survey, updated through the mid-1970s. The massive Naval Ordnance Plant occupies a prominent position in South Charleston, reflecting the region's mid-century defense and manufacturing significance. The urban landscape of Charleston and Dunbar is contrasted by the steep, wooded ridges to the south, where numerous hollows like Dryden Hollow and Polly Hollow provide a glimpse into the traditional geography of the West Virginia hills.

Evidence of the local educational and social fabric is found in the many neighborhood schools, such as Cane Fork Sch and Midkiff Sch, and community burial grounds like Glendale Cem. The Kanawha State Forest dominates the southern portion of the map, while the Chesapeake and Ohio and Conrail lines follow the riverbanks, illustrating the vital rail-and-river network that drove the Kanawha Valley's economy.